Rail anchor



April 21, 1925. v 1,534,623

, H. G. WARR RAIL ANCHOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Maj 24, 1924 April 21, 1925.

H. G. WARR RAIL ANCHOR Filed May 24. 1924 3 $heets-$heet 5 Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

HAn-onn em ts, gr jmexiiiipee innmois gissrenoa'i ornnr & in ooier eiiir; OFCHICAGO, ILLINOISyA coerce Arron or IL'nIN'oIs.

RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed. May 2 4,

of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to rail anchoring devices and has for its ob ect the provision of an improved two-piece anchor device which is so forinetlsotobe simple of design, efficient in its operation, rigid in construction. and in which either or both parts of the "device may be economically made 01" sheet *metal. I

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved sheet metal anchor device which is so foriiiedas to provide rigid jaw portions for engaging opposite edges of a rail base, and with interlocking wedge portions which cooperate to effect a firm grip of the jaws, on the rail when one part of the device is driven into wedgin'g engagement with the other.

The invention consists in the new and improved constructions relating to two-piece rail anchors, as will be hereinafter described and claimed for c'arryiii'g out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of the enibodime ntsshown in the drawings, where- 111* Fig. 1 is 'aview in elevation of a sheet metal rail anchor constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrated in its operaztive position on a rail base.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the construction shown in Fig.1,

Fig. gis a view in perspective of one of the parts of the anchor illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 a. view in perspective of a jaw men'iber adapted to interlock with the member shown in Fig. 3,

5 is a view of the metal blank from which the member shown in Fig. 3' is formed,

6 is a plan View, illustrating another embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 7 is a View in perspective of one of the jaw members shown in Fig. '6.

Fig. 8 is" a plan view of a metal sheet showing the outline and nesting ariwingement of several of the blanks from which the member shown in Fig. 7 is formed.

Figs and. r e s in. elevation "and plain respectively, of another embodiment of the invention, J v

Fr 11 1s a view in aers oective of a sheet me-ta l member employed in the structure "illustrated in Figs. 9 and v Fig.1 Z is a View ofthe othei member of this enibodiinent adaptedfto interlock with the member shown in l1, and 13 is'a view, on a reduced scale, showing thepntline of the blank from which the sl'ie'et metal member shown in F ig. 11 is formed. 7 x

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5 incltisive 'o f'tli'e-drawings; 10 designates the base portio 'n of arailroad rail, and 11 one of the cross tieson which the rail is supported,

The embodiment of my invention illustrated iirthe above figures, consists of two jaw members 12 and 13, which have an interlocking "engagei'nent with each other beneath the rail base and engage opposite edges thereof. The aw member 12 is made preferably from a sheet metal blank lt of the outline shown in Fig. 5, bent to the configuration shown in Fig, 3. The member 12 asshown in Fig. 3 consists of a flat body portion 15 formed at one end with spaced vertically disposed gaws 16 and 17 having recesses 18 and 19 which fit over one edge of the rail base, and provided at the other end with a channel-shaped portion2O which interlocks with the inembe '13 when the anchor is in its. applied position. The jaw portions 16 and T7. are formed by bending the margins 2122 ofthe blank 14 downwardly at right angles to the flat body portion 15. This construction mekes it practical to use a relatively light sheet of metal, since the downwardly bent margins 2l22 of the blank provide rigid'ifying flanges and 24 for the body and permits the end portions of the awslb' and]? to be made oi any desired width. The flange 23 is former with an extension. 25', which provides a tie 'ab ntment of suitable area. for bearing against one of the vertical faces of the tie 11. The portion 26 of the blank is bent downwardly end upwardly to forin the channel portion 20 ofthenrember 12, the jouterflange 27 of which extends at an angle to the longitndinal center of the i-ail and is bent slightly inwardly to provide a hook-shaped wedging' snrface 28. The end 29 of the blank is preterabl'y sheared'on a diagonal line so that the ange 28 may be formed of uniform height throughout without excessive stretching of the metal. The recesses 18 and 19 of the jaws 16 and 17 are preferably formed so that their lower surfaces 18, 19 will be on the same plane as the upper surface of the body 15 when the flanges 2324 are bent to their vertical position.

The jaw member 13 of the anchor is made from a suitable sheet metal blank and is bent to provide a jaw portion 30 for engagement with the other edge of the rail base and is provided with a downwardly bent flange 31. This flange is bent slightly rearwardly and extends at an angle corresponding to the angle of the flange 27, whereby forming a hook-shaped wedge member which cooperates with the flange 27 to bring the jaws 16 and 17 and the jaw 30 of the members 12 and 13, respectively, into gripping contact with the opposite edges of the rail base when one of said members is moved longitudinally of the rail with relation to the other member.

In applying the anchor to a rail, the vertically disposed jaws 16 and 17 of the member 12 are fitted over one edge of the rail base in position for the tie abutting member 25 to bear against one of the vertical faces of the tie. The aw 30 of the member 13 may then be fitted over the opposite edge of the rail and moved toward the tie 11 so as to bring the cooperating wedging flanges 2731 into interlocking engagement. The member 13 is then driven toward the tie to increase the wedging grip of the flanges 27-31 with each other and effect a firm grip of the vertical jaws 16 and 17 and the jaw 30 of the members 12 and 13 respectively upon opposite edges of the rail base.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, I have shown a modified form of device made up of two sheet metal members 1213 having an interlocking engagement of the same character as that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The aw member 12 is formed from a blank 32 of the configuration shown in Fig. 8, the end 33 of which is bent upwardly and inwardly to provide a jaw portion 3-1 adapted to fit over one edge of the rail base 10. The other end 35 of the blank is bent downwardly and upwardly to provide a channel-shaped portion 20 which is the same in all respects as the chaunel-shaped portion 20 described in connection with Fig. 3. Numeral 3G designates a tie abutting portion of the anchor which is formed by bending the portion 37 of the blank downwardly. Both ends of the blank 32 are sheared on diagonal lines, and the portion 37 is so proportioned with relation to the other parts of the blank that a number of such blanks may be cut from a metal sheet with a minimum loss of metal.

The jaw member 13 may be and preferably is the same in construction as the jaw 13 shown in Figs. 1 to 1 inclusive, and the anchor is applied in the same manner as that previously described.

In Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, I have shown another modified construction. This form of anchor consists of two jaw members 3839 which instead of interlocking beneath the rail base as shown in the proceeding figures, have a wedging interlocking engagement with each other at one side of the rail base. The member 38 is formed at one end with spaced vertically disposed jaw portions 16 17 These jaws are formed by bending the margins 1041 of the blank 42 downwardly in the same manner as thatpreviously described in connection with the description of Figs. 3 and 5. The other end of the blank, instead of being bent to provide a channel-shaped portion such as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, is bent to provide an upstanding flange 43 which projects beyond the edge of the rail base and extends at an angle thereto so as to provide a wedge surface 14; which cooperates with the aw member 39 to effect a firm grip of the anchor on opposite edges of the rail base, when the member 39 is driven to its normal operating position. The member 39 is preferably made of cast metal and is formed with a jaw 45 for engaging the upper inclined surface of the rail base, a wedge 46 so disposed as to extend between the edge of the rail base and the wedge flange 43 of the member 38, and with a lower flange 47. .The flange 47 is preferably tapered to correspond to the taper of the wedge 4E6 and bears against the extremity of the downturned flange 418 so as to prevent any substantial downward rocking of the member 39 when it is driven to its rail gripping position.

In applying this form of anchor, the jaws of the member 38 are first hooked over one edge of the rail base and the member positioned adjacent the cross tie 11 so that the tie abut-ting flange 49 will bear against one of the vertical faces of the tie 11. The member 39 is positioned on the other side of the rail base with the wedge portion 16 disposed between the edge of the rail base and the flange 13 of the member 38. 39 is then driven longitudinally of the rail in a direction toward the tie to force the wedge 16 into the space between the flange 13 and the edge of the rail base, thereby exerting a wedging grip between the flange 16 and the adjacent edge of the rail base and also effecting a firm grip of the aws 16'l7 on the other edge of the rail base.

lVhile I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, it will be obvious that the structural features of the invention shown and described may be varied without departure from the spirit of the invention. I theiefore do not wish to limit'myself to the specific structures shown The member 1 and described, except in so far as the appended claims are specifically limited.

I claim:

l. A rail anchor comprising two jaw members which interlock with each other beneath the rail and together embrace the base portion thereof, one oft said members being made of sheet metal and provided at one end with means forengaging one edge of said rail base and at the other end with a channel shaped portion which decreases in width toward one edge of the member to provide an angularily disposed flange and the other member being formed with a aw for engaging the other edge of said base and with an angularly disposed flange which cooperates with the angular flange of said first mentioned member to ettect said interlocking engagement.

2. A, rail anchor comprisingtwo members which interlock with each other and together en'ibrace the base of a rail, one of said members being formed from a sheet metal blank bent to provide vertically dis posed jaw portions which fit over one edge of the rail and formed at one end with a flange disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail, the other member being termed to fit over the other edge of the rail and provided with a wedge surface adapted to engage said angularlydisposed flange ot the first mentioned member to effect said interlocking engagement.

3. A rail anchor comprising two members which interlock with each other and together embrace the base of a rail one ot said members being formed from a sheet metal blank the margins of which are bent downwardly to provide rigiditying flanges having rertimlly disposed jaw portions which [it over one edge of the rail and formed at one end with a flange disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center of the raih the other member being formed to fit over the other edge of the rail base and provided with a wedge surface adapted to engage said angularly disposed flange of the first mentioned member to effect said interloclc ing engagement.

l. A. rail. anchor comprising two jaw members which interlock with each other and together embrace the base of a rail, one of said members being :tormed of sheet metal and formed at one end with means for engaging one edge of a rail and at the other end with a flange disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail to provide a wedging surface, and the other member being formed with means for engaging the other edge of the rail base and with an angularly disposed flange adapted to interlock with the flange of said first mentioned member. V

A rail anchor comprising two sheet metal jaw members formed with jaws for engaging the opposite edges of the rail base and with angnlarly dlsposed flanges providing an interlocking engagement of said member at a point beneath the rail base; said flanges being disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center oi the rail to provide wedge surfaces so that movement of one jaw member with relation to the other eflect-s a grip of thejaws on opposite edges of the rail.

6. A ail anchor comprising two jaw members which interlock with each other and together embrace the base of a rail, one of saidmembers being made of sheet metal and formed at one end with means for engaging one edge of a rail and at the other end with a channel shaped portion, the outer flange oi which is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail to provide a wedging surface, and the other member being formed with means for engaging the other edge of the rail base and with an an gularly'disposed flange adapted to interlock with the flange of said first mentioned memher.

7. A rail anchor comprising two jaw members which interlock with each other at a point beneath the rail base and together embrace said rail base, one of said members being made. of sheet metal and formed at one end with means for engaging one edge of said base and at the other end with a channel shaped portion, the outer flange o't which is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail to provide a wedging surface, and the other member being formed with means for engaging the other edge of the rail base and with an a-ngnlarly disposed flange adapted to interlock with the flange of said first mentioned member;

8. A rail anchor comprising two sheet metal jaw members formed with aws "for engaging the opposite edges of a rail base and with ci'iengaging flanges providing an interlocking engagement of said members at a point beneath the rail base; said flanges being disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail to provide wedge surfaces adapted to draw the jaws into grip ping engagement with the opposite edges of the rail base when one member is moved with relation to the other.

9. A rail anchor comprising coengaging sheet metal members which interlock with each other and together embrace the base of a rail; one of said members being formed from a metal blank bent at one end to form a channel shaped portion to provide a flange disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail and bent along its margin to form rigidifying flanges which terminate in aws adapted to fit over one edge of said base, the other of said members being formed with means for engaging the other edge of said base and with an angularly disposed flange adapted to engage with the angular .flange of the first mentioned member to efl'ect said interlocking engagement.

10. A rail anchor comprising co-engaging members which interlock with each other and together grip opposite edges of a rail base, one of said members being formed from a sheet metal blank having portions adapted to be bent to provide means for engaging one edge of the rail base and for bearing against one of the vertical faces of a cross tie and having an end portion sheared on a diagonal line and bent to provide a flange which extends at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail; the other of said members being formed with means for engaging the other edge of said base and with an angularly disposed flange adapted to engage with the angular flange of the first mentioned member to effect said interlocking engagement.

11. A rail anchor comprising co-engag-= ing members which interlock with each other and together grip opposite edges of a rail base, one of said members being formed from a. sheet metal blank having portions adapted to be bent to provide means for engaging one edge of said rail base and for bearing against one of the vertical faces of a cross tie and having an end portion sheared on a diagonal line and bent to provide a channel shaped portion, the outer flange of which extends at an angle to the longtiudina-l center of the rail, the other of said members being formed with means for engaging the other edge of said base and with an angularly disposed flange adapted to engage with the angular flange of the first mentioned member to effect said interlocking engagement.

12. A rail anchor comprising two interlocking members, one of which is formed at one end with spaced jaw portions for engaging one edge of a rail base, at the other end with a flange extending at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail, and provided intermediate said jaw portion and flange with marginal rigidifying flanges, the other of said members being formed with means for engaging the other edge of the rail base and formed with a wedging surface adapted to engage with said flange of the first mentioned member to effect said interlocking engagement.

13. A rail anchor comprising two interlocking members, one of which is formed at one end with spaced jaw portions for engaging one edge of a rail base, at the other end with a flange extending at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail, and provided intermediate said jaw portion and flange with means for bearing against the tie; the other of said members being formed with means for engaging the other edge of the rail and with a wedging surface adapted to be driven into wedging engagement with said angular flange of the first mentioned member to effect said interlocking engagement and to move said members into gripping engagement with the opposite edges of the rail.

14. A rail anchor comprising two interlocking members, one of which is formed at one end with spaced jaw portions for engaging one edge of a rail base, at the other end with a flange extending at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rail, and provided intermediate said jaw portions and flange with means for bearing against a tie; the other of said members being formed of sheet metal and provided with means for engaging the outer edge of the rail base and with a downturned flange having a Wedging surface adapted to be driven into engagement with said angular flange of the first mentioned member to effect said interlocking engagement and to move said members into gripping engagement with the opposite edges of the rail base.

HAROLD G. VAR-R. 

